Latch released positive clutch



June 23, 1953 o. E. SZEKELY 2,642,970

LATCH RELEASED POSITIVE CLUTCH Filed Feb. 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 0770 E, SZEKELV BYE ATTORNEYS.

June 23, 1953 o, sz L 2,642,970

LATCH RELEASED POSITIVE CLUTCH Filed Feb. 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OTTO E SZEKELV ATTORNEYS.

June 23, 1953 o. E. SZEKELY 2,642,970

LATCH RELEASED POSITIVE CLUTCH Filed Feb. 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. OTTO E. .SZEKEL ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 23; 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH RELEASED POSITIVE CLUTCH Otto E. Szekely; Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by

mesne' assignments, to 0. E. Szekely & Associates, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 23, 1950,.SerialNo. 145,830

claims.

1 This invention relates to. a releasable driving connection adapted for use in makinga positive driving connection between a prime mover and amember'to.be drivenand. so constructed as to.

permit quick. release of the driving, connection when desirable with insurance against.reengage- Inent. At the same time the device is so constructed that the driving connection can be readily reengaged.

In various installations where a, member is positively driven by apri'me mover, it becomes.

after the drive has beenreleased it may be found that the supposed fault inthe generator does not exist. In such case reengagement of the drive without disturbance of the functioning of the engine becomes desirable.

Now in accordance with this invention means in connection with the drive between a prime mover and a member to be drivenwhich, normally inoperative, may be readily actuated to quickly release the drive and prevent its reengagement and which ma bequickly reengaged, are provided. The means. in accordance with this invention will, be more particularly adaptable to a. shaft drive and: will be simple and economical to produce, of light weight, efiicient, in operation and will require a' minimum of maintenance.

Havingnow indicated in a general way the nature'and. purpose of thisinvention, I will proceed,

for illustrative purposes, to a detailed description of a preferred, embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view; partly in section and partly" broken away, of an embodiment of this invention in connection with the drive between an engine and a, generator.

Figure 2 is a. sectional view' showing. detail of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of an element of'the embodiment shownin Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view,.par.tly in section. andpartly broken away, showing details of. construction of.

the embodiment, shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of. a detail of constructure.

Figure 6 is a side view,.partly. in section and partly broken away, of. another embodiment of this. invention.

Thus, by way of. example but without Figure? isa sectional view, partly broken away, showing another embodiment of this. invention which is particularly adapted for. use in connection with. a remote accessory.

Referring to Figures l-, A is a base of an. en-

gine, for example, an. airplane engine, andB is,

for. example, a generator. The engine A is provided with. a, power take-off shaft I bored and splined for the reception of a.sp lined end 2 of a connector shaft 3.

Thegenerator B is, provided with a shaft- 4 bored. and splined for the reception of a splined end of the connector shaft 3. The. generator shaft lismountedin bearings 5, 5 and thegenerator is, provided with a mounting flange E5 through which it is secured to the engine by 'bolts.

or. studs 6 The connector shaft 3 is provided, between its.

splined ends, with a thread i. terminating at one end in a groove 8 of greater depth than that'of the thread;

Betweenthe generator flange 5 andthe engine is positioned a spider 9, bored out for lightness.

and' provided with a radial boss. iii. The spider isbored. from. its periphery through the boss H]; a portion of the length of the bore H from the periphery being enlarged, to form a shoulder l2.

Extending in the bore l l is aplunger l3. having an annular flange l4 spaced from its lower end. A coil spring 15 surrounds the plunger 3 within the enlarged portion of. the bore and bears against the flange i4 and an. abutment threaded into the bore from the periphery of the spider.

The plunger I3 is provided with a pin I! at its upper end and is drilled for the reception of a removable cotter pin 28 at a point such that when the plunger spring [5' to clear the thread I and the cotter pin passed through the bore, the cotter pin will,

rest on the outer end of abutment l6 and. hold the plunger clear of the thread.

As shown in Figure 4, the end portionv of the connector shaft 3, engaged with generator shaft 4, is bored out as indicated at l9, having a spring seat. 20 formed at the bottom of the bore and grooved adjacent the open end of the, bore to. form a shoulder 21 having an outer curved. face. 22- and an, angular surface 23, behindthe shoulder 2 l A spring, shown in detail in Figure 5, having a base 24, having a spring seat '25. formed centrally thereof and having spring arms ZEextending therefrom, is positioned in the bore in the endof. the generator shaft with itsbaseagainst the bottom of the bore and the ends of the spring I3 is retracted against. the.

3 arms engaged behind the shoulder 2! in the bore in the connector shaft 3.

A second spring 2! has its ends seated in the spring seat 28 at the bottom of the bore in the connector shaft and abut the seat 25 formed on the base 24, all as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The various elements above described, as shown in Figure 1, are so arranged that when the generator B is mounted on the engine A the start of the thread l on shaft 3 will, in the rtation of the shaft, pass opposite to the end of the plunger 13, which will be of a size slightly less than the width of the thread; and the annular flange on the plunger [3 will be spaced from the end of the plunger a distance such that on contact with the shoulder l2 the end of the plunger will be entered in the thread. The splines in the generator shaft 3 engaged therewith and the shaft 3 will be of a length such that its splined ends will, for driving connection, be engaged in the front end portions of the take-off and generator shafts, all as is shown and will be clear from an inspection of Figure 1.

Further, as is more particularly shown in Figure 4, the spring 21 will be under some tension and the spring arms 28 will be engaged behind the shoulder 22 in the bore l8 in the end of connector shaft 3 and will prevent axial movement of the connector shaft 3 into the bore in the power take-off shaft l.

In'operation, assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, on operation of the engine the generator will be driven. If now it becomes necessary .for any reason to quickly disconnect the generator from the power take-off shaft, the plunger [3 is lifted sufficiently, by grasping pin 11, to withdraw the cotter pin 28 and the plunger is then released and its lower end will enter the thread i under the influence of spring [5. tor shaft results in its being axially moved to withdraw it from engagement with the power take-ofi shaft. In this movement of the connector shaft 3, the spring 21 will be compressed and the ends of the spring arms 28 guided by the angular surface 23 will be released from shoulder 22 and extend into the bore in the connector shaft 3. When the connectorshaft is released from the power take-off shaft, the plunger will drop into the groove 8 in the connector shaft and will act to hold the connector shaft in disconnected position against the action of spring 21.

If now it be found that the generator was illadvisedly disconnected, or if for any other reason it be desired to reconnect it with the engine without stopping or interfering with the function of the engine, such will be accomplished by raising the plunger 13 by grasping the pin l7 and reinserting the cotter pin 28 to retain the plunger in raised position clear of the thread I. When the plunger is raised out of the groove 8 and clear Of the thread I, the spring 2'! will move the connector shaft 3 axially into engagement with the power take-off shaft l and, at the same time, the ends of spring arms 23 will engage the shoulder 22 and prevent further axial movement of the connector shaft. Thus, the generator will be reconnected with the power take-01f shaft of the engine and the parts will be again in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4.

It will be noted that the thread 1 on connector shaft 3 is formed with a longv lead so that the axial movement of the connector shaft, when pin I3 is engaged in the thread, will be large in order that the disengagement of the shaft 3 from Continued rotation of the connecthe power take-off shaft I will be very rapid.

By way'of example, the lead of the thread I may be such as to effect axial movement of the shaft 3 sufficient to disconnect it from the power takeoff shaft I in one or, at the most, two revolutions of the shaft 3.

Again, as a safeguard, the shaft 3 is weakened, as by the groove I8, between the thread I and the splined end of the shaft engaged with the generator shaft. The groove l8 provides a shear line on which the shaft 3 will shear off if the generator, for example, jams before the shaft 3 can be disengaged from the power take-off shaft by the plunger l3 and thread 1. The provision of the shear line, as groove I8, between the thread I and the generator enables the end of shaft 3 to be disengaged from the take-off shaft by the plunger l3 after shaft 3 has sheared for example, because of jamming of the generator.

Referring now to Figure 6, C is a base of an engine, for example, an airplane engine, and D is, for example, a generator. Engine 0 has a power take-off shaft 32 which is bored and splined for the reception of a splined end 34 of a connector shaft 38.

The generator D is provided with a shaft 38 which is bored and splined for the reception of a splined end of the connector shaft 36. The generator shaft 38 is mounted in bearings 48, 40 and the generator is provided with a mounting flange 42 through which it is secured to the engine by bolts or studs 44.

The connector shaft 38 is provided, between its splined ends, with a. thread 48. Thread 46 terminates at one end ina groove 48 which is of greater depth than that of the thread. In addition, the connector shaft has a weakened portion 41 which will break should the withdrawal mechanism fail to operate in time.

Between the generator flange 42 and engine C is positioned a spider 50 having a boss 52. Boss 52 is bored radially to provide a bore 54, the upper portion of which is larger than the lower portion, to form a shoulder 56.

Extending in the bore 54 is a plunger 58 having an annular flange 68 spaced from its lower end. A coil spring 62 surrounds plunger 58 within the enlarged portion of the bore and bears against flange 50 and an abutment 64 threaded into the bore from the periphery of the spider.

Plunger 58 has a pin 66 at its upper end and is drilled for the reception of a removable cotter pin 58 at a point such that when the plunger 58 is retracted against spring 82 to clear thread 48 and the cotter pin passed through the bore, the cotter pin will rest on the outer end Of abutment 64 and hold the plunger clear of the thread.

A second boss 12 is provided with a radial slot 14. A bore 16 connects the periphery of the spider with the slot. Bore 16 has an enlarged outer portion forming a shoulder I8. A plunger has an offset portion 82 which is adapted to travel in slot 14 and prevent the plunger 80 from rotating and a feeler end 84.

A spring 88 encompasses a portion of plunger 88 in the enlarged part of bore 16. Spring 86 abuts against shoulder 18 and against a cap 88 secured to plunger 80 by means of a pin 90. Cap 88 has a pin 92 which acts to limit the inward travel of plunger 88.

It will be noted that when the connector shaft 36 is positioned as shown in Figure 6, that is, in the normal driving position, the feeler end 84 of plunger 80 is so positioned with respect to groove 48 that the inward movement of plunger 86 will result in feeler end 84 freely entering groove 48.

The connector shaft 36 has a hollow bore 94 which has at opposite ends enlarged portions 96 and 98 respectively. A bolt I00 having a head I02 passes freely through bore 94 and is thread ably secured to shaft38 as shown at I04.

A coil spring I06 encompasses bolt I00 and abuts against shoulder I08 in the connector shaft and against shaft 38. As we observe Figure 6, spring I06 acts to bias connector shaft 36 to the left and forces shoulder H0 in connector shaft 36 against bolt head I02. Thus, spring I06 together with bolt head I02 and shoulder IIO act to fix the axial position of connector shaft 36 in an accurate manner. It will be apparent that a fine adjustment Of this position may be accomplished by turning the bolt I00 either further into or out of shaft 38 depending upon which direction it is desired to move shaft 36.

On operation of the engine, assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Figure 6, the generator will be driven. Should it be necessary to quickly disconnect the generator from the power take-off shaft, plunger 53 is lifted by pin 66, cotter pin 68 is withdrawn, the plunger is released and enters thread 46 under the influence of spring 62. The rotation of the connector shaft 36 results in its being axially moved to withdraw it from engagement with shaft 32. When connector shaft 36 is released from shaft 32, plunger 58 drops into groove 43 and will act to 'hold the connector shaft in disconnected position against the action of spring 466.

In order to return connector shaft 36 to its proper engaged position with shaft 32, it is simply necessary to withdraw plunger 58 by means of pin 66 and replace cotter pin 63 to hold it in the withdrawn position. Spring I86 will then force connector shaft 36 to the left, as we view Figure 6, into engagement with shaft 32, forcing shoulder H8 into abutting relation with bolt head I32. Thus, the generator will be reconnected with the power take-off shaft of the engine and the parts will be again in the position shown in Figure 6.

Feeler end 84 is provided to determine whether or not the connector shaft 36 is located in the proper driving position. When the connector shaft 36 is in the fully withdrawn position, that is, with plunger 58 seated in groove 48, it will be noted that feeler end 84 of plunger 88 will come into contact with the end of connector shaft 36, thus preventing the plunger from being depressed until pin 92 touches the outer periphery of spider 56. The only time that plunger 89 can be depressed until pin 32 touches the periphery of spider 58 is when the connector shaft 36 is in proper driving position at which time groove 48 lies in the same axial plane as the feeler end of plunger 88, thus permitting the feeler end to move inwardly unobstructed.

Referring now to Figure 7, the embodiment shown here is particularly adapted for use where, for example, a generator is positioned somewhat remotely from the engine. As shown, an engine base E has a power take-off shaft II 4. Shaft H4 is bored and splined for the reception of a splined end I I6 of a connector shaft II 8.

Shaft H8 is carried throughout the greater portion of its extent within hollow shaft I28. A collar I22 on shaft I I8 abuts against the inner surface of hollow shaft I28 and acts to center shaft H8 within shaft I20.

The end ofshaft I I8 which is remote from en-- gine E carries splines I24 which are adapted to engage splines I26 secured to the inside of shaft I20.

A coil spring I36 is carried out in hollowed out portion I 32 in shaft H8 and abuts against a spring retainer 434. Spring retainer I34 has a spindle I36 which is encompassed by spring I30 and is held in position by a snap ring as shown at I38.

As seen in Figure 7, spring I38 biases shaft I I8 to the left against a stop I48 which is adapted to abut against collar I22 and which is retained in place by means of a nut I42 threaded onto shaft I28 and holding stop I48 against shoulder I43.

A tubular housing I44 carries shaft I 28 through the medium of bearings I46 and I48. Bearings I46 and I48 are held against axial movement inwardly by a tubular bearing spacer I54, bearing I46 being additionally held by snap ring I58. The exterior side of bearing I48 abuts against a shoulder I 56 on shaft I28. The exterior side of bearing I46 abuts against a bearing spacer I58 which in turn abuts against a lock washer sleeve I66 which is held in position by means of nut [42.

Housing I44 is provided with a flange I62 having bolt holes I64 by means of which housing I44 can be bolted to an accessory (not shown) such as, for example, a generator. Hollow shaft I23 has a flange I66 which is provided with bolt holes I68 by means of which the shaft I28 can be bolted to the drive shaft of the accessory. The engine end of housing I44 is secured to the engine base E by means of bolts I18 which pass through flange I72.

Between the engine E and flange I12 is positioned a spider I16. The spider has a radial boss I18 which, in turn, is provided with a radial bore I80. A portion of the length of the bore I88 from the periphery is enlarged to form a shoulder I82.

Extending in the bore I88 is a plunger I84 having an annular flange I66 spaced from its lower end. A coil spring I88 surrounds plunger I84 within the enlarged portion of the bore and bears against flange I86 and an abutment I98 threaded into the bore through the periphery of the spider.

Plunger I84 is provided with a pin I62 at its upper end and is drilled for the reception of a removable cotter pin I54 at a point such that when the plunger I84 is retracted against spring I88, the cotter pin, passed through the bore, will rest on the outer end of abutment I98 and will hold plunger I84 clear of a thread I96 on the shaft II8.

Spider I15 has a second boss I98 which is provided with a radial slot 286 near its inner periphery and with a bore 282 connecting the slot to the outer periphery of the spider. Bore 202 has an enlarged outer portion to form a shoulder 204.

A crank-shaped plunger 266 is carried in slot 268 and bore 252. Plunger 286 has a rightangled portion 288 which, together with slot 288, prevents the plunger from turning. Plunger 286 has a feeler end 2H) which is adapted to be depressed into a groove 2 I2 in shaft I I8. It will be noted that groove 2I2 is adjacent one end of thread I36 and is deeper than the thread. It.

will be further noted that the center of groove 242 is further grooved to provide a weakened sheer section 2I-4 in shaft H3.

The enlarged portion of bore 282 carries a spring ZIG which encompasses plunger 266 and abuts against shoulder 28% and plunger cap 2I8 which is secured to the plunger by means of a pin 220. A second pin 222 which passes through cap 2I8 and plunger 206 limits the inward travel of plunger 206.

In operation, assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Figure '7, on operation of the engine, shaft H8 and shaft I20 will be driven and, in turn, will drive the accessory to which shaft I20 is connected. In order to disconnect the accessory from its driving relationship with the engine, cotter pin I9 is withdrawn and plunger I84 is depressed by means of spring I88 until its lower end enters thread I95. Continued rotation of shaft H8 results in its being axially moved to withdraw it from engagement with power take-o1f shaft H l. When shaft H8 is released from its connection with shaft II l, plunger I84 drops into groove 2I2 and holds shaft H8 in the disengaged position against the action of spring I38, which has been compressed by the axial movement of shaft Hfl.

If, now, for any reason, it is desired to reconnect shaft H8 to shaft II I, this can readily be accomplished by raising plunger I84 until it is clear of thread I96. The plunger may be secured in this position by reinserting cotter pin I94. Plunger I84 being clear of thread I96, spring I38 moves shaft I I8 axially until it is reengaged with shaft I I4 and collar I22 abuts against stop I40.

As previously noted, shaft H8 is provided with a grooved sheer section 2 I 4 in the event that, for example, the accessory jams before shaft H8 can be disengaged from shaft I It. In the event that the sheer section is severed, collar I22 will act to keep shaft H8 centered within hollow shaft I20.

Plunger 286 operates in the same manner as the plunger 80 of Figure 6 to indicate whether or not shaft H8 is in the proper engaged or driving position. If such is the case, it will be apparent that when plunger 2% is depressed, feeler end 2 I will be aligned with groove 2 I2 and can enter the groove permitting a full depression of plunger 206. If, on the other hand, shaft H8 is disengaged from shaft H4 or is not wholly engaged therewith, when plunger 206 is depressed, feeler end 2H3 will abut against the splines on end H6 of shaft H8 and, therefore, prevent the plunger 2% from being depressed the full amount, thus indicating that shaft I I8 is not properly engaged or is disengaged with shaft H4.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments of this invention as described above for illustrative purposes may be variously adapted for uses other than described by way of example and may be variously modified in detail without departing from this invention. Applicant, therefore, does not desire to b limited except as set forth in the appended claims.

This is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 66,963, filed December 23, 1948, now abandoned.

What is claimed is:

1. A releasable drive for connecting a driving member and a driven member comprising a connector shaft having splined end portions, a driving shaft bored and splined for the reception of one end of said connector shaft, a driven shaft bored and splined for the reception of the other end of said connector shaft, a thread formed on said connector shaft, a plunger mounted for movement radially of said connector shaft and adapted for entry into said thread to effect axial movement of said shaft in its rotation and a spring in the bore of the driven shaft which abuts against the connector shaft and which biases the connector shaft towards the driving shaft, stop means to limit the travel of the connector shaft responsive to the spring, a circumferential groove in said connector shaft, a second plunger mounted for radial movement with respect to said connector shaft, said groove being positioned on said connector shaft so as to lie in the same radial plane with the end of said second plunger when the connector shaft is properly engaged with said passing the major portion of said connector shaft,

said hollow shaft having an attachment end adapted to be secured to a shaft to be driven and being splined adjacent said end for the reception of the splined out-put end of the connector shaft, a collar on the connector shaft which is in contact with the interior surface of the hollow shaft and which is remote from the out-put end of the.

connector shaft, a spring mounted in the attachment end of the hollow shaft and abutting against the connector shaft so as to urge the connector shaft into engagement with the driving shaft, stop means to limit the travel of the connector shaft in response to said spring, a thread formed on said connector shaft and a plunger mounted independently and movable radially of said connector shaft and adapted for entry into said thread to effect axial movement of said connector shaft in its rotation.

3. A releasable drive for connecting a driving member and a remote driven member comprising a connector shaft having a splined in-put end and a splined out-put end, a driving shaft bored and splined for the reception of the splined in-put end of said connector shaft, a casing, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation in said casing and encompassing the major portion of said connector shaft, said hollow shaft having an attachment end adapted to be secured to a shaft to be driven and a collar on the connector shaft which is in contact with the interior surface of the hollow shaft and which is remote from the out-put end of the connector shaft, a spring mounted in the attachment end of the hollow shaft and abutting. against the connector shaft so as to urge the connector shaft into engagement with the driving shaft, stop means to limit the travel of the connector shaft in response to said spring, a thread formed on said connector shaft, a plunger mounted independently and movable radially of said connector shaft and adapted for entry into said thread to effect axial movement of said connector shaft in its rotation, a circumferential groove in said connector shaft, a second plunger mounted for radial movement with respect to said connector shaft, said groove being positioned on said connector shaft so as to lie in the same radial plane with the end of said second plunger when the connector shaft is properly engaged with said driving shaft and a portion of the connector shaft lying opposite said second plunger when the connector shaft is disengaged from said driving shaft.

4. A releasable drive for connecting a driving member and a remote driven member comprising a connector shaft having a splined in-put end and a splined out-put end, a driving shaft bored and splined for the reception of the splined in-put end of said connector shaft, a casing, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation in said casing and encompassing the major portion of said connector shaft, said hollow shaft having an attachment end adapted to be secured to a shaft to be driven and being splined adjacent said end for the reception of the splined out-put end of the connector shaft, a collar on the connector shaft which is in contact with the interior surface of the hollow shaft and which is remote from the out-put end of the connector shaft, a spring mounted in the attachment end of the hollow shaft and abutting against the connector shaft so as to urge the connector shaft into engagement with the driving shaft, stop means to limit the travel of the con- 10 nector shaft in response to said spring, a thread formed on said connector shaft and a plunger mounted independently and movable radially of said connector shaft and adapted for entry into said thread to effect axial movement of said connector shaft in its rotation.

OTTO E. SZEKELY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dineen May 30, 1950 

